Alessia Russo is convinced the “sky-high” standard of women’s football will ensure the sport’s profile continues to soar.

The England striker believes the sold-out stadiums and feverish atmospheres at last year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup™ reflect the game’s progress. Almost two million fans attended matches at Australia & New Zealand 2023, while there was an estimated global television audience of two billion.

Russo said the tournament highlighted the depth of quality in the sport and is confident the next generation of women’s players can further raise the bar.

“The World Cup showed the magnitude of the women’s game now is exactly where it should be,” the 24-year-old told FIFA. “You could really feel that throughout the competition. The crowds, the atmosphere, the fan vibe around the whole tournament was really special.

“The sky’s the limit for women’s football and people can really see that now, which is amazing and what we’ve wanted for a long time. The young players coming through are top. The level will keep getting better, the teams will keep getting better, and the 2027 World Cup is set up to be an amazing one.”

Russo was one of the stars of Australia & New Zealand 2023, scoring three goals as the Lionesses finished runners-up Down Under. Her haul included clutch strikes in quarter-final and semi-final victories and, while England were edged out by Spain in the championship match, Russo left the tournament having firmly established herself as one of the game’s most complete strikers.

The 24-year-old’s status among the elite was crystallised in January when she was voted by her fellow professionals into the FIFA FIFPRO Women’s World 11.

“One of the biggest honours you can get is to gain the respect of those other players that you play with and against,” added the Arsenal attacker. “It’s incredible. It definitely means the most coming from them because they’re who you’re on the journey with and whose opinion matters most.”

Russo has already etched her name into England’s history books, having been part of the team that won the UEFA Women’s EURO on home soil in 2022. But although the Women’s World Cup followed 12 months later, her and her team-mates will not be in major tournament action in 2024 after England missed out not only on qualification for the UEFA Women’s Nations League finals, but qualification for the Olympic Football Tournament as Great Britain.

“The Olympics was something that we really wanted to go to as a team,” said Russo. “Qualifying was really difficult and we fell short. It was really tough. We’ve had two big summers of tournaments and it’s going to be sad to not have another one, especially when you get used being in the flow of tournament football. That’s where every player wants to be playing. But we’ll use this time get a bit of a rest, recharge, and get ready to go again.”

While missing out on the Olympics represented a significant disappointment, the Lionesses players received hugely positive news in January 2024 when coach Sarina Wiegman signed a new long-term contract.

Wiegman, who has recently been voted as The Best FIFA Women’s Coach for a record fourth time, has committed her future until after the next Women’s World Cup in 2027. Russo explained why she feels is privileged to be working under “an incredible leader”.

“She makes the game a better place,” Russo added. “As soon as she starts talking, everyone listens. And I think that’s a real special quality. It makes it even more special that she can get a group of players on board straight away – we all have one vision and we have gone on this mission to try to achieve it. She was the leading force in all of that. She’s a very powerful woman and one who deserves all the success she gets.”

With Wiegman at the helm – and Russo among a host of outstanding England players set to be in their prime when the next World Cup comes around – the striker is already eyeing another tilt at the greatest prize of all.

“I think the World Cup is everything,” said Russo, who will be 27 when the next edition of the tournament takes place. “It’s what you want as a kid, what you dream about. The World Cup is the pinnacle of football, what means the most, and what you strive for every single day.”